Shahbag Protests of 2013 (Bangladesh)

Dhaka

When I first got to Bangladesh, it was around ten at night and pitch black out. The only thing I could see was bums crowded around burning garbage cans. The next day however, I realized I’d arrived amidst a time of unrest.

A driver slows down to check out police activity in the Banani District of the capital

Layin’ down the law

After visiting the University of Bangladesh, this demonstration here was the first official rally I saw of the “Even though this shit happened over forty years ago, let’s now hang the Jamaat-e-Islami war criminals of 1971” movement.

Little did I know, the remaining two weeks of my stay in Bangladesh would be pretty much governed by these protests which, although largely peaceful, at times would get a bit out of hand.

Bangladesh gained its independence in 1971 and had formerly been known as East Pakistan. During their fight for independence, many members of the Jamaat-e-Islami party had allegedly committed war crimes including but not limited to rape, genocide, torture and religious persecution.

A street-side mural depicting the Bangladeshi victory for independence from Pakistan. Prior to the war, the government of Pakistan’s west wing had discriminated against the language and ethnicity of East Pakistan’s citizens – not to mention political exclusion and economic neglect.

“FREEDOM” – One word says it all…

Wall of posters with a noose in the middle of each: “WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR CRIMES OF 1971…1971 saw genocide, 2013 will see justice…Peoples of Bangladesh”

Riot police ready for action in front of a war crimes poster

More riot police posting up near the Shabagh neighborhood of Dhaka – the epicenter of the anti-Jamaat-e-Islami protests

My Canadian buddy Nabeel posing with some unenthusiastic-looking riot police near the edge of the Shabagh protests.

The protest at Shabagh as seen on February 19, 2013 complete with giant posters of nooses and fake dead bodies hung from their necks all over the main intersection.

Noose banner in the background. They REALLY wanted to see those motherfuckers hung.

“JOY BANGLA!!!” – the slogan and war cry of the Mukti Bahini that fought for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

A picture of a noose encircled by cartoon renderings of all the people the protesters believe should be hung.

My Canadian buddy Nabeel being interviewed by a reporter about the “Shabagh Movement”

“Die mothafucka, die mothafucka, die!”

One of the fake dead bodies representing that of the Jamaat-e-Islami war criminals hung from a tree

Another war criminal “hangin’ around” Shabagh

Ya boi bein’ interviewed for Bangladeshi TV about whether or not I think they should hang the war criminals of 1971. Admittedly, I wasn’t very comfortable with the whole thing but shouted…

…”JOY BANGLA!” anyway.

Nabeel getting a patriotic message written on his arm while being recorded for Bangladeshi TV.

A depiction of a Jamaat-e-Islami war criminal as the devil

One man selling the Bangladeshi flags…

…and many other proud Bangladeshis like this guy wavin’ ’em around.

‘Bout ta git hung like a horse

“BBC, CNN: We are here to HANG war criminals who are convicted for 1. Genocide, 2. Rape, 3. Murder, 4. Setting Fire”

Another hilariously violent poster of a bloodied Jamaat-e-Islami dude tied to a tree.

Even the media was totally one-sided on the issue as told by this cartoon picture on the front page of “The Daily Star” which depicts the Islamists as knife-wielding, bomb chucking green monsters.

Uhhhh…typo?

At the protest, yet another “West Siiiiiddddeee” fucked up by my inability to tuck in my motherfuckin’ thumb. Pathetic…

Hard to fuck this one up though – Me and Nabeel doin’ a Shabagh Movement “SUCK IT!”

Some sari-ass hoz at the protest

Another depiction of a Jamaat-e-Islami war criminal not only being hung but also getting kicked in the ass

I don’t think those war criminals had too much of a chance making it out of this one alive

Guards in front of a museum near the protest

Gettin’ head

The work of a Bangladeshi artist being sold at the Shabagh protests. This dude liked to do his paintings on newspapers with images from the original publication appearing in small areas throughout. Here, an image from the newspaper appears in the eyeball of the painted face.